The first frame of the animation shows where the bird can find a suitable climate today (based on data from 2000). The next three frames predict where this bird’s suitable climate may shift in the future—one frame each for 2020, 2050, and 2080.

“Timberdoodle,” “bogsucker,” even “hookum pate”—those are some of the names given to one of our strangest sandpipers, the American Woodcock. This highly terrestrial shorebird nests in upland woods and thickets. Even in winter, it eschews aquatic habitats, again preferring areas with woody vegetation. Audubon's climate model shows an overall increase and northward expansion of areas of suitable climate in winter. In summer, though, overall loss and northward movement of suitable climate space are forecast. Fortunately, the species responds well to aggressive habitat management by humans—an action that may be increasingly required on the breeding grounds in the decades to come.

Are the projected range maps different from the range maps in field guides? Find the answer here.

Species Range Change from 2000 to 2080

The size of the circles roughly indicates the species’ range size in 2000 (left) and 2080 (right).

The amount of overlap between the 2000 circle and the 2080 circle indicates how stable the range will be geographically. Lots of overlap means the bird’s range doesn’t shift much. No overlap means the species will leave its current range entirely.